Amir Khan v Kell Brook: Mayor Sadiq Khan wants to see super-fights staged in London instead of Las Vegas
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan wants the capital to take the mantle from Las Vegas as the international host city for boxing's biggest bouts — and he has called on Amir Khan and Kell Brook to lead by example.
London's capability to host world title fights has been demonstrated in recent months by Anthony Joshua's successful defence of his IBF heavyweight belt in June and Kell Brook's valiant effort against world beater Gennady Golovkin in September, while Carl Froch's meeting with George Groves in front of 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in 2014 revealed the appetite for boxing in the city.
Speaking at the Boxing Writers' Club annual dinner on Monday night in front of guests including Amir Khan, Anthony Crolla, Nicola Adams and promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, the Labour Mayor said Wembley would be the perfect venue for a first meeting between light-middleweights Amir Khan and Brook.
Read more: Kell Brook set to return against Amir Khan or Canelo Alvarez
Amir Khan was floored in the sixth-round of his Las Vegas fight with Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (Source: Getty)
"I want to see the largest sports and cultural events staged here in London, not Las Vegas," said Khan.
"London was the perfect host for the unmissable fight between the undisputed pound-for-pound king in Gennady Golovkin and our very own Kell Brook.
"Both for our city, and the thousands of boxing fans in London, staging the best fights is something we could all get used to.
"I want to see the biggest sporting and cultural events staged here in London because we not only have world-class venues to stage top-class boxing, but we also have the globe's best fight fans.
"London is open to the best talent in the world and that is why I am keen to see another super-fight in the capital and what better one to start with than arch rivals Amir Khan and Kell Brook both in the ring at Wembley stadium?
"Both fighters are Northerners so London is neutral territory and I think it is a contest the British public and London fight fans would love to see."
Kell Brook lasted four-and-a-half rounds against pound-for-pound king Gennady Golovkin (Source: Getty)
Both Khan and Brook came up short in meetings with middleweight kings Saul Alvarez and Golovkin respectively.
The two fighters moved up from welterweight to middleweight for the bouts and were unable to overcome their opponents more established at the level.
Khan also paid tribute to boxing's capacity to teach discipline and take troubled youths off the streets to an audience that also included brother Sid Khan, the head coach at ABC Boxing Club in Earlsfield, were Olympic silver medallist super-heavyweight Joe Joyce trains.